Revision as of 16:22, 11 March 2011

Fort Wayne[1] is a city in the northeastern part of Indiana a state of the United States of America. It is 30 minutes from the western Ohio border and 70 minutes from the southern border of Michigan. The population is 248,341 (circa 2005) people.

Fort Wayne is a metropolitan city with a small community feel. It provides the rush of urban activity while never losing an intimate personal connection with those who live or visit here. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state of Indiana, located in Allen County, the largest county in the state. It is the regional commerce and industry center for Northeast Indiana and also impacts the economies of Southwestern Michigan and Western Ohio. Fort Wayne has been and is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and high tech industries.

The city has many historical buildings that usually offer regular tours. The city itself has a long history going back to the 1700s, but has lately succumbed to the urban sprawl so widespread in the Midwest. It is nicknamed the "Summit City" because, even though the surrounding area seems completely flat, it is on the high point of the old Wabash-Erie canal.

Contents

Get in

Fort Wayne is on Interstate 69, and also Indiana 469, a bypass freeway that loops around the far east side of town. Other major highways going through the city are US-30, US-24, and US-27.

By plane

Fort Wayne International Airport. Passengers looking for the convenient and friendly way to travel need to look no further than Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA). Recognized as "the nation's friendliest airport" by USA Today. FWA's airlines offer daily direct flights to/from Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, and Dallas-Fort Worth. With free wireless internet throughout the terminal, ample parking, short security lines and access to hundreds of destinations worldwide.

Fort Wayne International Airport operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.It's served by commuter and regional jets from most of the major hubs in the country. The airport has free internet (wireless or in carrels upstairs on the secure side).

There is a cookie factory right across the street from the airport, and you can tell what they're baking that day by smell. Volunteers meet you when you arrive and give away free cookies as you come through security.

For flights to Chicago, expect to pack your hand luggage into a small cargo hull. It is recommended that you avoid packing anything fragile in your carry-ons. The smaller lines operate tiny planes in between FW and Chicago and there is little room for even ladies' purses.

By bus

By train

Amtrak Waterloo Station - The nearest Amtrak[2] station is located at Lincoln and Center Street, Waterloo, IN, 46793. It is a 20-30 minute drive to the north of Fort Wayne. Be prepared to phone for a cab or have someone meet you because transportation from the station to the city is limited. The station is part of Amtrak's Capitol Limited[3] and Lakeshore Limited[4] lines.

Get around

There is a municipal bus system that can get you around called Citilink[5]. The system has limited routes and hours of operation.

All major Rental Car Companies have franchises are at the airport, but don't rent here. The airport branches are much more expensive. Call the Enterprise Car Rental location on the SW or NE side and have them pick you up. They have a weekend rate for $9.95 a day, from Friday morning through Monday morning. Reserve other rates online for the best rates.

If you get into the airport on a late flight, don't assume there will be taxis waiting. Call ahead and arrange one on A-1 taxi at 260-478-9910 or 800-871-0518.

See

Allen County Public Library Genealogical Collection[6]. It is the largest public genealogical collection in the United States. The library offers special classes and has librarians there to assist you in your search. One night a year, they keep the room open until midnight. It is usually around Halloween.

The Fort Wayne History Center[7] is a museum with many interesting displays about the area, from the days before Europeans came, to modern times. Even the castle-like building is worth a careful look. Among the stories to be read there are the afternoon that hi fidelity sound (from separating the frequencies and routing them through different speakers) was invented at the local Magnavox plant. They had settled on the term "tweeter" for the small speaker, but rejected a number of other suggestions before settling on "woofer" for the big ones.

Outdoors and Landmarks

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory 1100 S. Calhoun St. +1 260 427-6440. [8] Three indoor gardens with over 500 species of plants and 72 different cacti. They even have a childrens area with human sized worm holes and a talking tree that is quite cute. $2-$4.

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo 3411 Sherman Blvd. +1 260 427-6800. [9] Voted one of the top ten for children by Child magazine. With over 1500 animals, from lemurs to dingo dogs, orangutans to tigers. Themed areas like the Indonesian Rainforest and the new African Journey. They also have a sky ride, zoo train, carousel, canoe ride, and pony ride. Really nice zoo! $5-$8.

Fine Arts

Fort Wayne Museum of Art 311 E. Main St. +1 260 422-6467. [11] Focusing on American art, permanent pieces by William Forsyth, Janet Fish and more, and a collection of 56 Indiana Amish quilts. Furniture collection, modern and traditional art, Indiana artists, African American art, and more. $3-$10.

Kachmann Gallery. +1 260 424-3581. [12] Kachmann Gallery is a unique experience and resource in downtown Fort Wayne. A celebration of life and wellness; fine and commercial art; communication and media, the gallery is a beautiful and innovative focal point for cultural enrichment, personal development, events and entrepreneurship. Gallery Hours Thursday - Saturday 12-4 or by appointment.

Do

The Embassy Theater - An old movie palace that opened in 1928. It is a rare find. Most grand movie palaces like this have been torn down. Similar to the Fox Theaters I've seen in Atlanta and Detroit. In 1972, the Embassy Theater Foundation purchased the theater to save it from demolition and conversion into a parking lot. The theater was finally renovated and returned to its original shine in the early 80's and reopened as a performing arts venue. It has a huge balcony. The symphony performs here as do occasional travelling Broadway shows and performers. There is a largevariety of acts that perform, ranging from ZZ Top to Jerry Seinfeld. They also show classic movies on the big (I mean real big!) screen in the winter.

Architecture Tours - If you are into architecture, pick up the self-guided tour booklets at the downtown public library or look online and bring printouts of the tours. There was a rich culture in Fort Wayne until the 1950s when a number of major companies left the city or went bankrupt. The town was built on the junction of three rivers and has a French, English and American heritage. The Wabash and Erie Canal ran through the center of the downtown. FW has a number of mansions built for railroad and canal executives still standing. Some have been restored, but are not open to the general public. Stroll along Forest Park Boulevard or take a drive down Old Mill Road if you'd like to see these mansions from the outside.

Science Central - A few minutes' drive north of downtown is Science Central [13] , a hands-on science museum particularly well suited for children. There are many mechanical, optical, and industrial exhibits to explore, including a more-or-less working grain elevator inside.

Allen County Public Library- The ACPL [14] has the second largest genealogical collection in the U.S. (second only to the Mormon Church Archives in Salt Lake City). Of course, there is a coffee shop, wifi connection, used book store, and such to visit too. The library is enormous, by the standards of mid-sized cities, and claims to have a larger circulation figure than Denver's public library.

Sports

Fort Wayne Komets. Fort Wayne's minor league hockey team that plays in the International Hockey League. Founded in 1952, the Komets have won five league championships and have played every home game at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Fort Wayne Tin Caps recently moved to the newly build Parkview Field located downtown. Seats over 8,000 and provides a "big city" feel. +1 260 482-6400. [15] The Tincaps are the Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Tickets are cheap and games are fun. The best night to go is "dollar night" when hot dogs, soda and BEER (yes beer) is a mere $1 per cup. $6.50-$9.

'"Fort Wayne Freedom.[16] The Summit City's indoor football team, playing in the CIFL in 2008. This is the 4th league for Indoor Football for Fort Wayne, after the original Freedom played in the NIFL and UIF leagues, and the Fusion played in the af2 in 2007.

Fort Wayne Mad Ants.[17] The Summit City's NBA D-league team, the name is in recognition of the general and statesmen Fort Wayne was named after, General "Mad" 'Ant'hony Wayne.

Music

Columbia Street West - Home of the Whatzup Battle of the Bands

Piere's - Bar and music venue, visited by national recording artists.

Buy

If you like chocolate, there is a great store with four different locations called Debrand's[18] It is located in the airport, on the non-secure side, across from security, off of Coldwater Road south of Washington Center Road, on Auburn Road in the north, south of Dupont Road, and in the southwest in Jefferson Pointe. This store sells some of the best chocolate you will taste anywhere. It is made in Fort Wayne. They supply the TV show "The Apprentice" with the gold coin chocolates in the executive suite. The chocolate ain't cheap, but splurge and buy a couple of pieces - you will not regret it!

Fort Wayne has great shopping. Visit Jefferson Pointe[19] on the southwest end of town for the up-scale department store Von Maur, a DeBrand chocolate shop, Barnes & Noble bookstore, Rave movie theater[20], restaurants (including the excellent Eddie Merlot's[21] and popular Biaggi's[22]) and mall stores (Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works). What makes it fun, especially in warm weather, are its wide concourses for strolling and window shopping, with beautiful garden areas, potted plants, and fountains. Live music on Friday nights during the summer is especially fun. Look online for a listing of summer music acts.

Glenbrook Square Mall[23], located on the north end of the city, is a legacy-type enclosed mall. It is always busy, has many stores, three big department anchors, and a really nice food court.

Drink

Club Soda[24] - Like Ruth's Chris - only much hipper in an authentic 125 year old building. Very cool and hip place. Known for its signature martinis and live music, especially jazz. Outdoor seating also available.

Piere's[25] - On the northeast side of town, just north of the Indiana University Purdue University-Fort Wayne campus is the Midwest's largest nightclub, featuring five different atmospheres in one building. Piere's is open seven days a week until 3:00 am, and serves 120 different bottled beers from around the region and around the world.

Dash-In - Downtown on Calhoun is a cool coffee house in a 100+ year old building that also serves great lunches at a reasonable price. Good soups. They also sell beer by the bottle. The walls are lined by local artists' work that are also for sale.

Old Crown Coffee Roasters[27] - Near IPFW on North Anthony (3410) - It's the best coffee in Northeast Indiana. Fresh roasted beans every day with an emphasis on high quality. If you want great coffee, from India to Colombia, this is the place to go.

Espresso Gallery 10357 Illinois Rd, Fort Wayne - (260) 625-5888 - Fresh roasts every day with a giant, in-house roaster. Bags of coffee beans also available. Serving espresso, lattes, chai, cappuccino, Italian sodas and smoothies, as well as biscotti and other pastries and desserts. Incredibly relaxed atmosphere with dim lighting and whimsical furnishings. The art that hangs on the walls is made by local artists and is available for purchase. A very popular, quiet hang out for high schoolers and young professionals.

After Dark 1601 S. Harrison - LGBT nightclub open every night 6-3am. Sunday, Monday, and Wednesdays are kinda quiet, with karaoke going on. Tuesday nights are often busy, featuring male strippers that are usually pretty good. Thursday through Saturday offer drag shows that feature great local talent (with some not-so-great ones as well) and the best visiting queens from around the midwest. Dancing is always going on in-between and after the shows. Crowd is fairly eclectic; lesbian, gay and straight - young and old - trendy and traditional.

Eat

Coney Island - A wiener stand that likes their buns steamed since 1924. Huge during the Three Rivers Festival and the Lighting of the Santa Claus the night before Thanksgiving.

Firefly[28] - 3523 North Anthony Blvd. - The Firefly is perennially voted the best coffee house in town. It's just a block or two south of IPFW, the largest university in the city. The drink theme is insects, and they have many good smoothies and other offerings with bug-like names. There is free wireless internet access, and usually exhibits of local art on the walls. In the evenings, there is often live music.

Paula's on West Main - Great seafood and a very cool music bar called the Mangy Moose. It's in an old house. Very cool. Not cheap, but the food is great.

Mad Anthony Brewing Company - MABC is an old staple in Fort Wayne. The original is located downtown on the corner of Broadway and Taylor. This particular location is the most nostalgic, decorated with political paraphernalia dating back to the early 1930s. They have a very eclectic menu, ranging from their plethora of delicious sandwiches to salmon to homemade pizza. Their beer, made on location, is some of the best in Fort Wayne. Their beer is alos sold at several other locations, including Parkview Field and in bottles at local stores. It is fairly cheap and always a good meal!

Lucky's Terrapin Grille- 622 E Dupont Rd - North Side - Near Coldwater Rd - Formerly Munchies at Dupont Crossing - Great fish and sweet potato chips. They have this mango dipping sauce that is the best. It is fairly cheap and always a good meal!

Cindy's Diner - Downtown - Cindy's is a traditional 1950's-style diner loaded with charm. It's one of those stainless steel prefab buildings that used to be all over but disappeared with the onslaught of the chains. Those in the mood for breakfast can find it here any time of the day. It seat about 15 people. You sit at the counter and chew the fat with the staff. They have those little juke boxes every few seats with old 50's and 60's hits. They make their own donuts with an antique donut machine that came from old downtown Murphy's store. 830 S. Harrison Street. Cheap and a great value for breakfast or lunch. Closed in evenings.

Power's Hamburgers - South Downtown - 1402 S. Harrison across from Lincoln Green. This place was built in the 1940 and hasn't changed. It is the prototype for White Castle but the burgers are bigger and everything is fresh. The chili is also great. A picture of it is at [29] Real cheap and real fun!

The Oyster Bar - South Downtown - 1830 South Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802-5258 ph: 219.744.9490. There are two Oyster Bars in Fort Wayne. The original Oyster Bar downtown used to be a honest to goodness speakeasy: tradition has it that soda was served in front and cards & booze were the staple of the back room during prohibition. The original OB is just south of downtown in a 100+ year old brick building. You almost sit in the kitchen and have to walk through the kitchen to reach part of the seating. Small and very cool. You can see your dinner made and talk to the cooks. The food is really good too. You might think, Oyster Bar = Sea Food in Fort Wayne, Indiana = Huh? But this is the age of flash frozen Sashimi grade tuna air Fedexed via 747-400's. Ergo, the fish you eat in Chicago is the same stuff. In the summer you can eat outside. The north-side Oyster Bar is now closed. Steve Gard is the owner of both and a cool dude. Foodie to the max.

Asakusa Japanese Restaurant - 6224 Lima Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46818. ph: (260) 490-6888. A little bit expensive, however the sushi is great. Better sushi than you would expect to find in the Midwest.

The Italian Connection - West Side - 2725 Taylor St - Phone:260.432.9702 - This is one of the best kept secrets in Fort Wayne, most of the locals don't even know about it. It is a quaint Italian restaurant located in a small two story house. There is a large factory across the street, and a plain looking neighborhood surrounding. If it weren't for the small neon sign in the window you'd never look twice. It seats less than 50 and I've never seen more than three employees working: a host, a server, and the cook. The food is simple home-cooked Italian, and it's definitely worth the trip. Be sure to call ahead to make sure they're open.

Casa! Ristorante 7545 W. Jefferson Blvd., ph. 436-2272 - Many locals laude this Italian restaurant's signature salad as the best salad in Fort Wayne. Menu includes veal marsala, quattro formaggio pasta, lasange, Chef's salad with Genoan salami and parm, tilapia and other fish, pizza, and a host of other Italian favorites. Full bar. Reservations are recommended, as the place can get pretty busy. A three-course meal here will cost around $30 per person.

Flanagan's Restaurant and Pub 6525 Covington Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46804; ph. (219) 432-6666 - A lively, homey, Irish-themed family restaurant. The menu--which resembles a book more than it does a menu--is filled with American and European dishes, including steaks, corned beef, sandwiches and wraps, salads, and more. Lots of hearty, fried foods, as well as desserts. There's also a bar with TVs at each booth. There's a countdown clock to St. Patrick's Day near the entrance--the restaurant usually hosts a huge outdoor bash with tents and tons of beer in honor of the holiday every year.

Sakura Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar 5828 West Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46804; ph. 260-459-2022 - Serving fresh sushi and sashimi. Also available are various bento, tempura, meat dishes and more, along with a Japanese beer and sake selection. Be sure to check out the lunch specials! A bar and tatami room are also available.

Buffalo Wings & Ribs - 4636 Coldwater Rd. 260-482-9464 and 6439 W. Jefferson Blvd 260-436-9464. A favorite wing restaurant among the locals since the '80s. As the name implies, the specialties are buffalo wings (available in 16 signature sauces) and baby back ribs. Also serves French fries, poppers, chicken sandwiches, pitas, wraps, burgers, and other American classics. A popular hang-out among area high schoolers (especially athletes) and for families. Dine-in and take-out.

Don Hall's Prime Rib Restaurant, 2005 East State Blvd (Just across the street from Parkview Hospital), ☎(260) 483-0597. A family-friendly place to dine out!

Sleep

La Salle Bed & Breakfast, 517 W Washington Blvd, ☎(260) 422-0851, [31]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. The La Salle Bed & Breakfast offers traditional B&B accommodations at an affordable price. Located one block from the Allen County Genealogical Library and just two blocks from the Grand Wayne Centre and Embassy Theatre. Amenities include homemade French Breakfast, Hot Tub, Expansive decks with city view, cable TV, telephone with voicemail, wireless Internet access, bathrobes, and private baths. Four suites are available with full kitchens and separate living area and bedroom. 65-90. (41.076063,-85.145692)

Staybridge Suites - Fort Wayne, 5925 Ellison Rd (Exit 102 from I-69), ☎260-432-2427, [32]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: Noon. The Staybridge Suites Fort Wayne is located off I-69 and US 24 in the upscale Village of Coventry - SW Fort Wayne. Easy access to the Interstate 69 , Highway 24 and all major attractions and businesses in the area.109.00.

Courtyard at Grand Wayne Convention Center, 1150 South Harrison Street, ☎260-490-3629, [33]. This brand new downtown hotel is a prime option in the newly designed Harrison Square

Best Western Luxbury Inn, 5501 Coventry Lane, ☎260-436-0242, [34]. The Best Western Luxbury Inn, a Fort Wayne hotel offering clean, comfortable accommodations at great rates.

Cope

YMCA Downtown - If you are a member of a YMCA anywhere you can work out here. Also, if you stay at the downtown Holiday Inn or Hilton, you can work out here (both are are a short walk). They have 4 fullcourt basketball courts, and indoor track (1/8 mile), 5 racquetball courts, an aerobic room, a machine area (new Cybex machines) and a serious free weight room in the basement. They also have "Health Clubs for members of Y's that have that option that includes sauna, steam, whirlpool and a TV lounge.

Get out

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum - About 30 minutes' drive north of Fort Wayne, in Auburn, is the famous Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum [36]. It harks back to Fort Wayne's earlier glory days as part of the automobile industry. (The gas pump was invented here.) Apart from the exhibits, they have an elaborate souvenir shop, conference center, and other facilities. In the same area and within a few minutes' drive are several other substantial museums, including one with a very large collection of WWII land vehicles.

Black Pine Animal Park - An exotic animal sanctuary located about 35 minutes north of Fort Wayne in Albion. Albion's a quaint small town with a beautiful courthouse. Black Pine is 1.5 west of town on Main Street (1426 W. 300 N.), and is home to lions, bears, chimps, tigers and other exotic animals. All their keep are rescued pets or retired performers, and their volunteer staff loves to show you around, are very friendly, and very knowledgeable. If you love animals, this is the place to see them really up close. Not great for little kids, but great for older kids and adults.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!